Sutaj Estok: Decision on Military Aid for Ukraine Could Set Precedent

Bratislava, 6 February (TASR) - If the prosecution service is saying that the case is closed regarding the donation of military equipment to Ukraine, it must clearly explain how the Supreme Audit Office (NKU) was able to find serious shortcomings, Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok (Voice-SD) stated in a video on a social network in response to a recent decision by the Bratislava Regional Prosecutor's Office, adding that it could set a dangerous precedent. Sutaj Estok joined the criticism by Defence Ministry representatives who filed a motion to review the relevant decisions of law enforcement authorities, while he also objected to the claims about the donated property being worthless. According to him, the prosecution service also ignored legal doubts regarding the authority to decide on the donation of military equipment. "This is not only about specific equipment, but also about setting a precedent. If we allow that, in such serious decisions, political justification without clear legal grounds will suffice, it would be a dangerous signal for the state as a whole," added Sutaj Estok. He also announced that investigation team called 'Donor' (Darca) will continue working. "As we promised the voters. Questionable procedures from the period of the governments led by [Igor] Matovic and [Eduard] Heger must be reviewed and those responsible must be held accountable," he said, rejecting the claims that this was some kind of retaliation or revenge. "A clear boundary must be set to make sure that state assets cannot be managed without legal certainty and personal accountability," stressed Sutaj Estok. The law-enforcement authorities have dropped three out of four criminal investigations related to the aid given to Ukraine during the previous parliamentary term. By discontinuing criminal investigations or rejecting criminal complaints, they halted cases concerning the donation of MiG-29 fighters and the S-300 air-defence system along with the termination of a contract with a Russian company providing maintenance for the fighters. The police are still investigating the handover of technical documentation to Ukraine's military attache. The Defence Ministry intends to file a motion to review the decisions. According to Defence Ministry State Secretary Igor Melicher, the Regional Prosecutor's Office relied on nonsensical or even contradictory claims. However, the Regional Prosecutor's Office insists on the presented conclusions. Former defence minister (2020-23) Jaroslav Nad welcomed the information, while Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) stated that the prosecution service has entered the political battle on the side of the opposition. A special investigation team called 'Donor' (Darca) was set up at the Office for Combating Organised Crime (UBOK) in November 2024 in response to a report drawn up by NKU. The team was tasked with investigating suspicions of illegal actions during the previous election term by former defence ministry representatives and members of the government in connection with donations of Slovak military equipment worth hundreds of millions of euros to Ukraine. jrg